September 18 2024 Board Work Session Minutes 81
MINUTES
WORK SESSION
FREDERICK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2024
5:00 P.M.
BOARD ROOM, COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
107 NORTH KENT STREET, WINCHESTER, VIRGINIA
ATTENDEES
Board of Supervisors: Josh E. Ludwig, Chairman; Judith McCann-Slaughter, Vice
Chairman; Blaine P. Dunn; Heather H. Lockridge; John F. Jewell; Robert W. Wells and Robert T.
Liero were present.
Staff present: Michael Bollhoefer, County Administrator; Scott Varner, Director of
Information Technologies; Wyatt Pearson, Planning Director; Karen Vacchio, Public Information
Officer;Austin Cano, Assistant County Attorney; and Ann W. Phillips, Deputy Clerk to the Board of
Supervisors.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Ludwig called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
County Administrator Michael Bollhoefer provided an overview of the County's current and
projected financial status, specifically addressing revenues and capital fund projections.
The Chairman said better projections are needed before a decision is made on funding
requested school capital projects.
Supervisor Dunn discussed options for increasing revenues and said the Board should ask
Delegate Oates if she would be willing to carry the request for allowing a one-cent sales tax
increase to the General Assembly.
By consensus, the Board agreed to meet with the state legislators to discuss legislative
priorities.
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Board of Supervisors Work Session of September 18, 2024
County of Frederick, Virginia
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REQUEST FROM THE FREDERICK COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD — SENT FORWARD TO
PUBLIC HEARING
The Board discussed the request from Frederick County Public Schools for funding of
construction projects as follows:
1. A supplemental appropriation to the school construction fund for$151,600,000.00
for a fourth high school.
2. A supplemental appropriation to the school construction fund for$22,400,000.00
for Middletown Elementary School expansion.
3. A supplemental appropriation to the school construction fund for$13,600,000.00
for Jordan Springs Elementary School expansion.
Supervisor Wells said the requested projects have to be completed.
Supervisor Jewell asked that the request be added to an agenda for a decision by the
Board.
Supervisor Liero discussed school capacity numbers, building permit numbers, and rising
construction costs as reasons to move the request forward.
Supervisor Lockridge agreed with the need for the construction projects saying she wants
the County to get the most value for its construction investment but cited her concerns about
personnel decisions at an elementary school where a transgender teacher is employed.
Supervisor Jewell advocated for action on the request because of continuing growth in the
County.
Chairman Ludwig said the Board is looking at options, but costs are still unknown. He said
he would prefer to be able to tell the public exactly how the construction projects will be paid for.
Supervisor Wells said that during his tenure, three schools had been built with only one
real estate tax increase of one cent as well as one tax reduction.
Vice Chairman Slaughter discussed fund balance reserves and the Board policy regarding
contributions to the capital fund. She noted there are resources to explore and said she wished to
hear more from the County Administrator about value engineering and potential financial policy
changes that could help with revenues.
Supervisor Jewell asked that the Chairman poll the Board for consensus on sending the
request forward to a public hearing in either October or November. By consensus,the Board agreed
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Board of Supervisors Work Session of September 18, 2024
County of Frederick, Virginia
83
to send the request forward to a public hearing on October 23, 2024.
ADJOURN
There being no further business, the work session was adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
Josh E. Ludwig Michael Bollhoefer
Chairman, Board of Supervisors County Administrator
Minutes Prepared By:
Ann W. Phillips
Deputy Clerk, Board of Supervisors
Minute Book 50
Board of Supervisors Work Session of September 18, 2024
County of Frederick, Virginia